Nearly 15,000 of the 52,976 coronavirus patients in the United States are in the greater New York City metro area, the country’s largest population center.
The rapid spread of the virus has prompted authorities to take a series of drastic measures — asking most residents to stay home, releasing inmates from prisons where the virus could spread, and closing streets to create outdoor space for residents to exercise while still abiding by social distancing guidelines.
The administration is particularly worried about the region. Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, has advised anyone who has visited the area to self-quarantine for the next 14 days.
“About 56% of all the cases in the United States are coming out of that metro area and 60% of all the new cases are coming out of the metro New York Area and 31% of the people succumbing to this disease,” said Birx.
Experts say that other major cities in the US and worldwide could be forced to make similar choices in the coming days and weeks. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said his city is about six to 12 days behind the surge in coronavirus cases and deaths reported in New York City. On Tuesday, he enacted an emergency order requiring most residents to stay in their homes.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has asked his constituents to stay home and avoid riding the tube, which has been operating at limited capacity.
